Debris Mover for Mounting on Highway Trucks

ABSTRACT

A debris removal apparatus can be mounted on the front of a suitable vehicle for movement over the surface of the highway. The apparatus is formed with a central member and opposing wings pivotally mounted on the sides of the central member. The wings are independently pivotally movable by hydraulic cylinders forwardly and rearwardly of the central member to permit a selective placement of the debris on the shoulder of the highway. Hydraulic cylinders also control the vertical positioning of the apparatus between a lowered operative position and a raised transport position. Openings in the structure of the apparatus are covered with a rigid mesh that allows the passage of air through the apparatus, but not debris. The lower edge of the central member and wings are provided with a detachable wear strip. A control mechanism limits the speed of the vehicle when the apparatus is in the operative position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/987,552, filed on Mar. 10, 2020, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus adapted to mount on thefront of a truck, such as a three-quarter ton or larger pick-up truck,and, more particularly, to a debris mover that operates to remove debrisfrom a highway to the side of the highway for the safety of the peoplepicking up the debris.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Debris, such a tire treads from blown recap tires, trash, pieces fallingoff of automotive vehicles, etc., can accumulate on the surface of thehighway and become hazards to motorists traveling on that highway.Typically, motorists report the debris on the surface of the highway andthe Transportation Department of the state through which the highwayruns is contacted to remove the debris from the highway. In suchcircumstances, a highway worker drives a highway safety truck to thelocation where the debris is located. This highway worker parks thevehicle on the shoulder of the roadway, then walks on the highwaysurface to pick-up the debris and removes it from the surface of thehighway, usually placing the debris in the bed of the highway safetytruck.

Such procedures for removing debris from the surface of the highwaysubjects the highway worker to danger from being struck by automotivevehicles traveling on the highway and trying to avoid the debris, andfrom being struck by the debris flying across the highway after beingstruck by an automotive vehicle that was not able to avoid impacting thedebris while traveling on the highway. The highway worker would have amuch safer work environment if the debris were positioned along the sideof the highway, where the highway worker can pick-up the debris guardedby the bulk of the highway safety truck that was positioned along theside of the highway.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that would becapable of moving debris from the surface of the highway onto the sideof the highway, or otherwise move the debris to a safer place for thehighway worker to pick-up the debris. It would also be desirable if suchan apparatus were able to be moved into multiple configurations thatcould perform different functions to position debris to a safer locationalong the side of the highway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of theprior art by providing an apparatus that will be operable when mountedon a suitable vehicle to move debris lying on the surface of the highwayto the shoulder of the highway.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus formoving debris from the surface of the highway onto the shoulder for asafer disposal of the debris.

It is a feature of this invention that the debris removal apparatus isformed with opposing wings that are movable relative to a fixed centralmember to control the placement of the debris.

It is an advantage of this invention that the opposing wings arehydraulically positionable independently of one another.

It is another feature of this invention that the opposing wings can beindependently pivotally moved to positions pivoted forwardly of thecentral fixed portion or to positions pivoted rearwardly of the fixedcentral member.

It is another advantage of this invention that the positioning of bothopposing wings to a position pivoted forwardly of the fixed centralmember enables the debris removal apparatus to collect debris and beretained until a suitable location on the shoulder can be found fordisposal of the debris.

It is still another feature of this invention that openings are formedin the debris removal apparatus to permit viewing through the apparatus.

It is still another advantage of this invention that the openingsthrough the debris removal apparatus are covered with a mesh to keepobjects from passing through the debris removal apparatus.

It is another advantage of this invention that the openings allow thepassage of air through the apparatus while being moved along thehighway.

It is still another object of this invention to provide the debrisremoval apparatus with a mounting mechanism to permit a detachablemounting of the apparatus to a suitable vehicle, such as a three-quarterton pick-up truck.

It is yet another feature of this invention that the debris removalapparatus is pivotally connected to the mounting mechanism to enablehydraulic cylinders to move the apparatus vertically between a loweredoperative position and a raised transport position.

It is yet another object of this invention that the debris removalapparatus can be used as a push bumper to move another vehicle when theapparatus is raised above the surface of the highway.

It is a further object of this invention that the debris removalapparatus is provided with a control mechanism to actuate the raisingand lowering and the pivoted positioning of the opposing wings.

It is a further feature of this invention that the control mechanismlimits the speed of operation of the vehicle to which the debris removalapparatus is attached while the apparatus is lowered onto the highway,but will permit the vehicle speed to be increased once the apparatus israised to a safe level for transport.

It is yet a further feature of this invention that the debris removalapparatus is provided with a detachable wear member along a lower edgethereof to engage the surface of the highway.

It is a further advantage of this invention that the detachable wearmember can be bolted onto the lower edge of the fixed central member andthe opposing wings to facilitate replacement thereof.

It is still a further advantage of this invention that debris can beremoved from the highway in a manner to maximize safety of individualworking to remove debris from the surface of the highway.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a debris removalapparatus for displacing debris from the surface of a highway to theshoulder with an apparatus that is easy to manufacture, efficient tooperate and convenient to maintain.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplishedaccording to the instant invention by providing a debris removalapparatus for mounting on the front of a suitable vehicle for movementover the surface of the highway. The apparatus is formed with a fixedcentral member and opposing wings pivotally mounted on the sides of thecentral member. The wings are independently pivotally movable throughthe operation of hydraulic cylinders forwardly and rearwardly of thecentral member to permit a selective placement of the debris inaccordance with the corresponding condition of the highway. Hydrauliccylinders also control the vertical positioning of the apparatus betweena lowered operative position and a raised transport position. Openingsin the structure of the apparatus are covered with a rigid mesh thatallows the passage of air through the apparatus. The lower edge of thecentral member and wings are provided with a detachable wear strip. Acontrol mechanism limits the speed of the vehicle when the apparatus isin the lowered operative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon considerationof the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a debris moving apparatusincorporating the principles of the instant invention, the side wings ofthe apparatus being shown in a rearwardly pivoted configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the debris moving apparatus shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the debris moving apparatus shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the central member of thedebris moving apparatus shown in FIG. 1, depicting the mountingapparatus for connecting the debris moving apparatus to a suitablevehicle for movement over the highway, such as the front platform ofhighway trucks equipped for mounting snow plows;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged rear perspective view of the right side wing ofthe debris moving apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the debris moving apparatusshowing the pivoting of the side wings into a forwardly pivotedconfiguration relative to the central member thereof;

FIG. 6 is a right, rear perspective view of the debris moving apparatusshown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a left, rear perspective view of the debris moving apparatusshown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the control system for the debris movingapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to drawings, a debris moving apparatus mountable to themount of a host highway truck to facilitate the removal of debris fromthe surface of the highway and incorporating the principles of theinstant invention can best be seen. References to left and right, aswell as front and rear can be determined from reference to the mountingmechanism of the debris moving apparatus positioned at the rear of thedebris moving apparatus so that the apparatus can be mounted on the snowplow mounting device at the front of the highway truck so that thedebris moving apparatus is located forwardly of the highway truck.

The debris moving apparatus 10 has a fixed central member 12 and a pairof opposing side wing members 13, 14 that are pivotally connected,respectively, to the left and right sides of the central member 12. Thecentral member 12 includes a rearwardly positioned universal mountingmechanism 15, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, including a mounting frame 16,a pair of parallel four-bar links 17 interconnecting the mounting frame16 and the central member 12, and a pair of lift cylinders 18, which arepreferably hydraulic, but could be pneumatic cylinders as well. Theprovision of the four-bar links 17, best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, enablesthe lift cylinders 18 to move the central member 12, along with the leftand right side members 13, 14, vertically, relative to the highway truckon which the debris moving apparatus 10 is mounted, from a lowermostposition adjacent the surface of the highway to a raised position spacedabove the surface of the highway. Accordingly, the debris movingapparatus 10 can be positioned into the lowermost position to movedebris off the surface of the highway, or into the raised position fortransport and to provide a push bumper for engaging other vehicles, etc.

Each of the side members 13, 14 is attached to the respective end of thecentral member 12 by a vertically oriented pivot 19 that enables therespective side member 13, 14 to rotate about a vertical axis relativeto the central member 12. Further, each respective side member 13, 14 isprovided with a hydraulic swing cylinder 22 that controls the pivotalmovement of the respective side member 13, 14 relative to the centralmember 12. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the side members 13, 14 canbe pivoted rearwardly toward the truck on which the apparatus 10 ismounted, with elastomeric cushions 25 provided around the middle and endportions of the side members 13, 14 to prevent damage to the truckfenders. Also, as can be seen in FIGS. 5-7, the side members 13, 14 canbe pivoted forwardly relative to the central member 12 into thedirection of travel for operational functions as will be described ingreater detail below.

Appropriately positioned openings through the structure of the debrismoving apparatus 10 establishes air vents that allow for proper air flowthrough the apparatus 10 while mounted on a highway truck, enabling thedebris moving apparatus 10 to be mounted on a highway truck year round.Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 4A, one skilled in the art willrecognize that the central member 12 and the side members 13, 14 areconstructed with a lower wear edge member 27 that is bolted onto thestructural frame members 28, 29 of the central member 12 and sidemembers 13, 14 to allow the lower wear edge members to be selectivelyremoved from the debris moving apparatus 10 and replaced with new lowerwear members 27. In addition, the side members 13, 14 are detachablefrom the central member 12 via disconnection of the pivots 19 to permitreplacement thereof in the event one of more of these members 12-14 aredamaged beyond repair.

A control system 30 is provided for the debris moving apparatus 10, asis best seen in FIG. 8. The control system 30 receives signals from thetruck via sensor 34 to indicate the speed at which the highway truck istraveling along the highway. The control system 30 regulates a hydraulicvalve 32 distributing hydraulic fluid to the lift cylinders 18 and tothe swing cylinders 22. When the highway truck is moving above apredetermined speed, the control system 30 prevents the lift cylinders18 and the swing cylinders 22 from operating, thus maintaining thedebris moving apparatus 10 in the raised transport position.

In addition, the debris moving apparatus 10 is provided with one or morecameras 35 which provide the operator of the highway truck a view, via amonitor 37, of the debris being moved by the apparatus 10 duringoperation of the debris moving apparatus 10 deployed in the lowermostposition. The control system 30 can be operated to prevent the debrismoving apparatus 10 from being raised above the lowermost position whilethe debris is still positioned on the highway in front of the centralmember 12. At a minimum, the camera 35 allows the operator to safely seethe debris being removed from the surface of the highway from the cab ofthe highway truck.

In operation, the debris moving apparatus 10 is mounted onto the snowplow mount of standard highway trucks through attachment through theuniversal mounting apparatus 15. Once the hydraulic lines 39 areconnected through the hydraulic valve and the hydraulic system of thehighway truck, the debris moving apparatus 10 is ready for operation.The lift cylinders 18 are actuated to raise the central member 12 andthe pivotally attached side members 22 to the raised transport position.Preferably, the swing cylinders 22 are also actuated to retract the sidemembers 13, 14 rearwardly toward the highway truck to minimize theforward facing profile of the debris moving apparatus 10. Theelastomeric cushions or seals 25 prevent damage to the sheet metal ofthe highway truck when the side members 13, 14 are fully retractedrearwardly.

The control system 30 permits the highway truck to be operated at anysafe speed by the operator; however, the control system 30 also locksthe hydraulic valve 32 to prevent either the lift cylinders 18 or theswing cylinders 22 to be operated when the highway truck is beingoperated above a predetermined highway speed. If debris has been spottedon the highway and the operator wishes to operate the debris movingapparatus 10 to remove the debris from the surface of the highway, theoperator must lower the speed of operation of the highway truck belowthe predetermined speed before the control system 30 will allow thelowering of the debris moving apparatus 10 from the raised transportposition to a lowermost operating position for engagement of the debristo be removed from the highway.

The operator can then activate the lift cylinders 18 to lower the debrismoving apparatus 10 to the lowermost operative position. The controlsystem 30 will also allow the operator to activate the swing cylinders22 to position the side members 13, 14 into a desired configuration,pivoted relative to the central member 12. Since the swing cylinders 22can be operated independently of one another, the operator has multiplechoices of configurations to choose. Both side members 13, 14 can bemoved to a position, as depicted in FIG. 1, that are both slightlyrearwardly of the central member 12 to allow the debris to be moved bythe apparatus 10 to either side of the highway. The camera 35 allows theoperator to monitor the movement of the debris until placed off the sideof the road. The operator can then park the highway truck rearwardly ofthe debris along the side of the highway, exit the cab of the highwaytruck and place the debris in the bed of the truck for removal from theshoulder of the highway.

Alternatively, the operator might select the positioning of the sidemembers 13, 14 forwardly of the central member 12, such as theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 5-7, to prevent the debris from dischargingfrom the debris moving apparatus 10, until a safe location along theside of the road can be reached, whereupon the operator can manipulatethe appropriate swing cylinder 22 to pivot the selected side member 13,14 rearwardly and allow the debris to be discharged along the side ofthe road for the safe engagement thereof by the operator. Suchconfigurations are particularly useful when the debris moving apparatusis being deployed on a bridge to remove debris therefrom when the bridgedoes not provide an adequately large shoulder for safely allowing theoperator to exit the cab of the highway truck to place the debris intothe bed of the highway truck.

Once the control system 30 senses that the lift cylinders 18 and theswing cylinders 22 have been manipulated to properly position the debrismoving apparatus 10 into a raised transport position, the control system30 will allow the speed of the highway truck to be increased above thepredetermined maximum safe operating speed for the deployed debrismoving apparatus 10. The sensing of the proper positioning of the liftand swing cylinders 18, 22 can be established by sensors (not shown)monitoring the four-bar lift linkages 17 or the positioning of thehydraulic cylinders 18, 22 themselves, as one of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate.

Accordingly, the debris moving apparatus 10 incorporating the principlesof the instant invention provides a number of features and advantagesheretofore unknown in the industry. The debris moving apparatus 10provides a safer process for highway workers to remove debris from thesurface of the highway. The apparatus 10 provides a hydraulicallycontrolled bumper that has a raised stowed, transport position thatoperates as a push bumper, such as is found on tow trucks, and a lowereddeployed position that allows engagement with debris on the surface ofthe highway for safely moving the debris to the side of the highway. Theuniversal mounting system 16 allows the apparatus 10 to be mounted ontoall platforms of highway trucks that can be used to mount snow plows.

Cameras 35 can be utilized on the front of the debris moving apparatus10 to allow the operator to safely see the debris being moved along thehighway surface from the cab of the truck through monitors 37 associatedwith the cameras 35. The side members 13, 14 have custom fascia on therear sides thereof to form around the sheet metal of the highway truckon which the apparatus 10 is mounted. Air vents through the debrismoving apparatus 10 permit proper air flow through the apparatus 10 whenplaced into the raised transport position while the highway truck isoperated at normal highway speeds. The bolt-on design of the lower wearmembers 27 on the central and side members 12-14 allows for convenientmaintenance and repair of the most likely damaged component of thedebris moving apparatus 10.

The control system 30 controls the operation of the debris movingapparatus 10. Sensing the operating speed of the highway truck throughspeed sensors 34, the control system 30 will prevent movement of thedebris moving apparatus from the raised transport position to a loweredoperative position when the highway truck is being operated at a speedabove a predetermined speed of operation deemed to be safe for theoperation of the debris moving apparatus 10. Furthermore, the controlsystem 30 will not allow the highway truck to be operated above thispredetermined safe speed of operation while the debris moving apparatus10 is deployed into the lowermost position adjacent to the surface ofthe highway to engage debris thereon. Accordingly, the debris beingremoved from the surface of the highway stays controlled and causesminimal to no damage to the debris moving apparatus 10, thus keeping thehighway truck and operator safe.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A debrismoving apparatus for removing debris from a highway surface to aposition along the side of the highway, comprising: a central membersupporting a mounting mechanism for connection thereof to a highwaytruck, said central member including a lift cylinder interconnectingwith the mounting mechanism to enable vertical movement of the centralmember relative to said mounting mechanism between a raised transportposition and a lowered operating position; a pair of opposing sidemembers pivotally connected to laterally opposing ends of said centralmember, each said side member including a swing cylinder interconnectingthe corresponding said side member and said central member to affectpivotal movement of said side members; and a control system operativelyconnected to said lift and swing cylinders to prevent movement of saidcentral and side members when said debris moving apparatus is beingtransported at a speed greater than a predetermined speed of movement.2. The debris moving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said swing cylindersare operable to move the respective said side members between positionspivoted rearwardly of said central member and positions pivotedforwardly of said central member.
 3. The debris moving apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said central member and said side members are formedwith openings therein to form air vents allowing the flow of air throughsaid central and side members while being transported in said raisedtransport position.
 4. The debris moving apparatus of claim 1 whereineach of said side members and said central member includes a detachablewear member connected thereto along a lowermost edge of said side andcentral members.
 5. The debris moving apparatus of claim 4 wherein saidwear members are bolted onto a frame member corresponding to each of therespective said members and said central member.
 6. The debris movingapparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said central member andsaid side members has mounted thereon a camera operatively connected toa monitor to provide an operator of said debris moving apparatus a viewof debris being engaged thereby when said debris moving apparatus ismoved into said lowered operative position.
 7. The debris movingapparatus of claim 1 wherein said control system prevents forwardmovement of said central member above said predetermined speed ofmovement when moved to said lower operative position.
 8. The debrismoving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side members are independentlymovable through operation of the corresponding said swing cylinder. 9.The debris moving apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanismfurther includes a four-bar linkage interconnecting said mountingmechanism and said central member so that said central member willremain in a vertical orientation during movement between said raisedtransport position and said lowered operative position.
 10. An apparatusfor removing debris from the surface of a highway, comprising: avertically oriented central member; a mounting mechanism adapted forconnection to a snow plow mount on a suitable vehicle, said mountingmechanism being supported on a rearward side of said central member; apair of hydraulic lift cylinders interconnecting said mounting mechanismand said central member to affect vertical movement of said centralmember between a raised transport position and a lowered operativeposition; a pair of side members pivotally connected, respectively, tolaterally opposing ends of said central member, said side members beingvertically movable with said central member, but pivotally movablerelative to said central member about respective vertical pivots; and ahydraulic swing cylinder connected, respectively, between each sidemember and said central member to control pivotal movement of said sidemembers.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a controlsystem operatively associated with said hydraulic lift and swingcylinders to prevent movement of said central and side members when saiddebris moving apparatus is being transported at a speed greater than apredetermined speed of movement.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 whereinsaid control system is further operable to limit forward movement ofsaid apparatus for removing debris from the surface of the highway onlywhen the suitable vehicle is being operated below said predeterminedspeed of movement when said central and side members are in said loweredoperative position.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least oneof said central member and said side members has mounted thereon acamera operatively connected to a monitor to provide an operator of saidapparatus a view of debris being engaged thereby when said debris movingapparatus is moved into said lowered operative position.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein each of said side members and said centralmember includes a detachable wear member connected thereto by boltsalong a lowermost edge of said side and central members to a framemember thereof.
 15. An apparatus for displacing debris on a highwaysurface onto a shoulder of the highway, comprising: a verticallyoriented central member having a mounting mechanism attached on arearward surface thereof to affect mounting of said central member ontoa suitable vehicle; hydraulic lift cylinders interconnecting saidmounting mechanism and said central member to affect vertical movementof said central member between a lowered operative position and a raisedtransport position; first and second wing members pivotally connected toopposing sides of said central member; a swing cylinder interconnectingeach of said wing members and said central member to affect pivotalmovement of said first and second wing members relative to said centralmember, each said swing cylinder being operative independently of theopposing said swing member to permit selective orientation of said wingmembers to control placement of the highway debris, each of said firstand second wing members being independently selectively movable topositions forwardly and rearwardly of said central member; and openingsformed in said central member and said wing members for the passage ofair through the apparatus when said central member is placed into saidraised transport position.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein aportion of said openings is covered with a rigid mesh to prevent debrisfrom passing through said openings.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15further comprising: a control mechanism operatively connected to saidlift cylinders and said swing cylinders to limit the speed of movementof said suitable vehicle below a predetermined speed of movement whensaid central member is placed into the lowered operative position. 18.The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control mechanism prevents theoperation of said lift cylinders and said swing cylinders when saidcentral member is raised vertically above said lowered operativeposition and when said suitable vehicle is being operated at a speed ofmovement greater than said predetermined speed of movement.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said side members and said centralmember includes a detachable wear member connected thereto by boltsalong a lowermost edge of said side and central members to a framemember thereof.